Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (06/24/12)

Full Transcript of Father Swann's Homily:

I have always enjoyed the Old Sherlock Holmes Mystery Stories, from the time of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, playing Holmes and Dr. Watson----to the very modern version recently shown on PBS. I sometime listen to the radio version of Sherlock Holmes on CD as I drive the car. I recently ran across the following little story involving the “ever brilliant” Holmes and the somewhat “dull witted” Dr. Watson.

The story goes like this: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. They set up their tent and fell asleep. Some hours later, Holmes woke his faithful friend up."Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."Watson replied, "I see millions of stars." "What does that tell you?" asked Holmes. Watson pondered for a minute. "

Astronomically speaking,” it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.

Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo.

Horologically, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning.

Theologically, it’s evident the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant.

Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Then after a pause, Watson said: “Well, Holmes, what does it tell you?"

Holmes was silent for a moment and then he said. "Watson, you imbecile, can’t you see that someone has stolen our tent."

There is a danger, even when we come to Scripture, that we look for the “complicated” and overlook the sublimely obvious. Lets look at Mark’s Gospel for today with that in mind.



Jesus and the disciples are in the same boat. It is night, a dangerous time for sea journeys. And yet, even though it is dark, Jesus invited then to go “sailing.” Sure enough a “great gale” arose, and the waves beat into the boat – so that the boat was being “swamped.” It’ s dark, it’s dangerous, and they are alone in the boat with no one but Jesus to protect them– and He is asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat




In their fright, they call out, “Teacher , don’t you care that we’re sinking?” This is a “prayer” that the “powerless” disciples pray. In the parlance of current 12 step Programs– they are “ready.” They no longer live under the delusion of “self deliverance.” They have given up on the “idea” that they can “fix it themselves.” Jesus wakes up– calmly “rebukes” the wind and waves saying “peace be still.”

And having spoken to the “sea”- he now speaks to his people, and says, “why are you afraid?” Don’t you have faith? Notice he does not say why WERE you afraid- rather- he says why ARE you afraid? After all he just “stilled” the storm and waves. No doubt that event scared the “dickens” out of the disciples. Then the disciples say to one another: Who is this—even the waves obey Him?

That question: WHO IS THIS is always ‘on the table’ when we get in the “boat” with Jesus. William Willimon has said that they were afraid for two reasons: the first most obvious is the “fear” of the death dealing storm. The second is a kind of “fear” like the fear on that first Easter Morn- the response to the ‘risen Christ’ was not joy, but profound fear. -- -that- Easter just might be true- Even death is subject to Him. It isn’t over til He says its over. He makes a “way” when there was no way. In today’s Gospel His power is greater than the wind and the waves. That is “scary.”

Even in a congregation as small as St Paul’s- no doubt some of us are dealing with a “storm” of one sort or another-- in our lives. If not dealing with one now– we have had personal storms and no doubt will have more at some time.

Here is what a “storm” in your life or mine– DOES NOT MEAN. It does not mean that God does not love you. It does not mean that God is “angry” with you. It does not mean that God is “paying you back” for something. Storms “happen” - we live in a complicated “fallen” world where things happen. There is a degree of “randomness” built into God’s creation. In other words, good and bad happen to all.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of total deliverance from evil, no matter how grim or overwhelming that evil appears in the life of a believer. This is the bedrock faith of the Church.

The “faith in Christ” that withstands life’s storms is not--- only available to the great major personalities in our faith tradition–BUT-- is available to all of us --the “rank and file”--- in all of the storms that come our way.

The Apostle Paul, writing on the firm ground and assurance of Christian hope, in the face of all storms, states emphatically: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It seems to me that three obvious points come out of our Gospel reading this morning:

1. Christ converts Chaos into Calm.

2. Christ Comforts His Companions in their Concern.

3. Christ is in Control.

God is here!! God is involved in our lives. And WE want to be in control ?? We must move from “control” to trust. The only way to ‘control life’ is to trust the only One who can control it.



AMEN